Presidential race affecting congressional runs, too

Actions of Romney, Obama ripple through other candidates in their parties

by Henry C. Jackson - Sept. 28, 2012 11:20 PMAssociated Press

WASHINGTON - The fates of President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney in November are likely to affect a number of key state races that will shape control of Congress.

Democrats are trying to defend a narrow majority in the Senate, while Republicans are expected to keep their majority in the House of Representatives.

Republicans need to net four seats to take control of the Senate, and they have the potential to pick up four seats in states that Obama and Romney are fiercely contesting: Virginia, Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin. Republicans also must hold onto a Senate seat in Nevada, another presidential battleground state.

Recent polls have indicated that the presidential and Senate races have tightened in Arizona, too.

"There's obviously a down-ballot impact from the performance of the top of the ticket," said South Dakota's John Thune, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. Senate Republicans are doing all they can to help Romney, Thune said. "We need him to do well."

Democrats feel the same about the top of their ticket. Senate leaders, including Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, said Democratic candidates were certain to benefit from a stronger Obama performance in November. They said they'd also benefit if Romney stumbles.

That's also likely the case in Arizona, where many political analysts have long viewed Democratic Senate contender Richard Carmona's chances as closely linked to Obama's.

Carmona, President George W. Bush's former surgeon general, was encouraged by Obama and other senior Democrats to run for the retiring Republican Sen. Jon Kyl's seat.

He is facing six-term U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., in a general election race that is viewed as a dead heat.

Romney is still considered the favorite to carry Arizona, traditionally a presidential red state, but recent polling suggests that Obama has gained ground.

Romney's struggle to overcome his secretly recorded remarks at a meeting with donors offered an early demonstration of how the top of the ticket can quickly shake other races.

His comment to a Florida fundraiser in May, that 47 percent of Americans think they are "victims" entitled to government help and that he doesn't worry about "those people," sent Republican Senate candidates scrambling. In Massachusetts, Connecticut, Nevada and Hawaii, Republicans respectfully disavowed his remarks.